Catheter for submucous administration of local anesthetics in obtaining paracervical block

ABSTRACT

A catheter for submucous administration of a local anesthetic agent in obtaining paracervical block, comprising a tabular device having a rearwardly directed collar at one end and intended to be applied submucously, which collar encircles the entire circumference of the tube. The collar may be provided with 3 to 6 slits, and be inclined at an angle of 30* to 45* to the axis of the tube.

United States Patent Ekbladh et al.

[ July 29,1975

[541' CATHETER FOR SUBMUCOUS ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL ANESTHETICS IN OBTAINING PARACERVICAL BLOCK [75] Inventors: Fred Viige Gunnar Ekbladh, Saro;

Sven Lennart Steen, Kullavik, both of Sweden [73] Assignee: Astra-Sjuco AB, Goteborg, Sweden [22] Filed: Nov. 13, 1973 211' Appl. No.: 415,352

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 24, 1972 Sweden l5320/72 [52] US. Cl. 128/215; 128/245; 128/348 [51] Int. Cl. A6lm 5/00; A6lm 25/00 [58] Field of Search 128/213, 215, 348, 350 R,

[56 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 724,9 l 3 4/l903 Montgomery 128/245 3,308,819 3/1967 3,508,545 4/1970 3,516,410 6/1970 3,788,328 l/l974 Alley et a1 128/350 R Primary Examlner-Dalton L. Truluck Attorney, Age it, or Firm-Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond ABSTRACT A catheter for submucous administration of a local anesthetic agent in obtaining paracervical block, comprising a tabular device having a rearwardly directed collar at one end and intended to be applied submucously, which collar encircles the entire circumference of the tube. The collar may be provided with 3 to 6 slits, and be inclined at an angle Of 30 to 45 to the axis of the tube,

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CATHETER FOR SUBMUCOUS ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL ANESTHETICS IN OBTAINING PARACERVICAL BLOCK The present invention relates to a catheter to be used for submucous administration of a local anesthetic agent in obtaining paracervical block.

The object of the present invention is to obtain a catheter to be used in anesthetizing the cervix, the catheter being intended to be applied submucously.

It is previously known to inject an anesthetic active agent to obtain a paracervical block in so-called pain less delivery. The injection has been carried outin such a way that the gynecologist, by means of a hypodermic syringe with an applied long needle, injects subcutaneously an anesthetic agent laterally on the both sides of the cervix. The drawback of this method is that the injection must be carried out several times to maintain a painless condition. In order to reduce the number of injections one often uses a high concentration and a large dose of anesthetic agent which latter usage, however, is not desirable depending on the toxicity of the anesthetic agent.

In order to eliminate this drawback, a catheter technique has been used whereby one places one catheter on each side laterally of the cervix. The catheter is so designed that it lies subcutaneously in the tissue. The opposite ends of the catheters have connectors for connecting a hypodermic syringe and are fixed with adhesive tape on the thighs of the patient. When necessary small doses of an anesthetic agent in low concentration can be introduced through the catheters.

It has, however, now been found that one can obtain a painless condition for a longer period of time if the anesthetic agent is introduced submucously in the cervix. In this way, the catheter lies only 3 to 4 mm deep, as contrasted with the case when subcutaneous anesthesia is obtained with the catheter lying to mm deep, in which latter case catheters intended for subcutaneous injection cannot be used, but rather a special catheter is then required.

Thus, it has now surprisingly been shown possible to fulfill this requirement by the present invention which is characterized in that the catheter in its one end, that is the end intended for submucous application, is provided with a rearwardly directed collar which encircles the whole circumference of the catheter.

According to a suitable embodiment, the collar is partly slit.

According to another suitable embodiment, the collar subtends at an angle of to 45 with the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

The expression rearwardly directed collar means that the funnel-like cavity formed between the collar and the catheter opens towards the other end of the catheter, which end is not provided with a collar.

The present invention will be described in more detail in the following, with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of-the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

Reference number 1 denotes a tubular catheter which is made of a flexible plastic material such as polyethylene, Teflon or the like material suitable for disposable use. The catheter 1 is provided with a central output opening 4 in its one end and an input opening in its other end. At its first said end and immediately adjacent thereto it is provided with a fixedly attached collar 2 of the same material as the catheter. Thereby the collar 2 opens as a funnel towards the other end of the catheter which other end is not provided with any collar. The collar is whole without any cuts or slits in it, and its outer part 3 lies about 1 to 1.5 mm outside the catheter tube 1, when the tube has an outside diameter of 1.5 mm. This means that the largest diameter of the collar is 3.5 to 4.5 mm. Further, the collar 2 forms an amgle of 30 to 45 with the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube.

In FIG. 2 a catheter l with a collar 2 similar to the one of FIG. I is shown. However. the collar is here provided with slits 6 in a number of at least three. suitably four to six, preferably five, the depth of the slits 6 being about half the width of the collar 2. The slits 6 of the collar 2 cause the collar 2 to be more readily adapted to the outer surface of the catheter 1, without thereby being deformed. The collar 2 has in other respects the same appearance as the collar of FIG. 1, that is to say that the collar forms the same angle with the longitudinal axis and has the same dimensions.

The catheter l is introduced submucously in the vaginal mucous membrane of the fornix on the both sides of the cervix by means of an introduction tube, as a socalled Kobaks tube, which is slit and in which the catheter has been placed. A mandrel is placed inside the catheter and is so designed that a cutting point is provided at its forward end by means of which the mucous membrane is perforated for introducing the catheter. The introduction tube and the mandrel are removed when the catheter has been placed at a depth of 3 to 4 mm. In this way one catheter is placed on each side of the cervix and is fixed by being drawn backwards a little so that the collar springs out and engages into the mucous membrane and is thereby retained. The other ends of the catheters are fixed to the respective thigh of the patient or the abdomen and are provided with connectors to an injection apparatus, whereupon an injection of a local anesthetic agent can be made frequently and in low concentration. By means of the rearwardly directed collar 2 the catheter lies well fixed in the cervix during the whole delivery procedure and is not removed until the delivery is completed. The catheter is removed by drawing it backwards causing the collar to turn inside out, so that it does not cause any enlargement of the introduction bore. In this way more rapid healing of the mucous membrane is obtained.

The catheter has been used satisfactorily and fulfilled requirements as regards retainment and introduction of a local anesthetic agent in actual tests.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved catheter the forward end of which is adapted to be inserted submucously into the cervix for administration of a local anesthetic agent in obtaining paracervical block, said catheter comprising a tube which is provided near its forward end with a collar extending away from the tube and toward the rear of the tube, said collar encircling the whole circumference of the tube and being provided with axially directed slits, the distance from the forward end of the catheter to the collar being such that the catheter can be mounted submucously in the cervix with the collar imbedded therein. 7

2. A catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of slits is at least three, suitably four to six.

3. A catheter according to any of claims 1, characterized in that the collar forms an angle of 30 to 45 with the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

4. A catheter according to claim 1 wherein the number of slits is from four to six.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,896,804 DATED July 29, 1975 lN\/ ENTOR( I Ekbladh et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2, lines 61 and 62, after "three" change the comma to a period and delete "suitably four to six."

Col. 2, line 63, delete "any of".

Col. 2, line 63, "claims 1'' should read -claim l-.

Signed and Scaled this thirtieth Day of December 1975 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. IAISIIALL DANN Arresting Officer Commission" of hmm and Trademarks 

1. An improved catheter the forward end of which is adapted to be inserted submucously into the cervix for administration of a local anesthetic agent in obtaining paracervical block, said catheter comprising a tube which is provided near its forward end with a collar extending away from the tube and toward the rear of the tube, said collar encircling the whole circumference of the tube and being provided with axially directed slits, the distance from the forward end of the catheter to the collar being such that the catheter can be mounted submucously in the cervix with the collar imbedded therein.
 2. A catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of slits is at least three, suitably four to six.
 3. A catheter according to any of claims 1, characterized in that the coLlar forms an angle of 30* to 45* with the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
 4. A catheter according to claim 1 wherein the number of slits is from four to six. 